Arrivals, What Did You Buy Recently?(Watches)

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"Anyone else seen this before?"

On my Orient crystal minute hand the furrow for the lume is actually straight down the center line but seems to shift to one side or the other according to which side you view it from.
I guess the light bends when passing through the thick crystal.
Could it be an optical illusion as it appears to be with my Orient?

On my older Benrus with thick barrel shaped crystal the very thin tip of the minute hand looks bent to one side or the other according to the angle. Thats made more apparent by the fact that with this model the hair fine tip has a whiplash profile to pass over the gold hour markers while nearly touching the minute markings.
 
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"Anyone else seen this before?"

On my Orient crystal minute hand the furrow for the lume is actually straight down the center line but seems to shift to one side or the other according to which side you view it from.
I guess the light bends when passing through the thick crystal.
Could it be an optical illusion as it appears to be with my Orient?

On my older Benrus with thick barrel shaped crystal the very thin tip of the minute hand looks bent to one side or the other according to the angle. Thats made more apparent by the fact that with this model the hair fine tip has a whiplash profile to pass over the gold hour markers while nearly touching the minute markings.

Not an optical illusion in this case, just a curious oversight of the QC division back in the late 70's. Looks the same from all angles and definitely differs from my Ed White and transitional.
 
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running around -30s/day; I know the movement could do better but it's close enough for me.

fun project

Looks to me like the support stud arm has shifted. I have a Chinese watch I could not get anywhere near keeping time till i noticed the stud arm looked to be too far over and saw that it shifted whenever i moved the other arm. I guesstimated the proper position by looking at the positioning in similar movements and wallah, got it near dead on the first try.
Most of my older watches don't have a separate support stud arm, the support is an integral part of the balance plate. These seem easiest to regulate for me.
 
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I鈥檓 a sucker for 50s Hamiltons (luckily they鈥檙e easier on the wallet than their Omega counterparts). This new arrival is an early 50s 14k Fleetwood.
 
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Nivada Grenchen CASD, Valjoux 92 version. I have had a number of these, and I'm still looking for one that is a real keeper. Maybe this will be it since the case is sharp and I like the color of the lume. It's on a BoR bracelet with a Nivada clasp. I think the clasp is legit, but I'm a bit skeptical about the bracelet. Regardless, I think the bracelet suits the watch, and it's comfortable.

 
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Just put in an order for this nice looking Benrus. A bit of wear to the plating but I haven't seen one of these jeweled dials in such great shape before. Most are downright nasty looking with one or more missing markers. Remarkably clean looking in running condition, from an estate sale.
I suspect a watch of this vintage looking that clean has been serviced and restored in recent years.
 
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Great idea well
purchased the parts necessary to build my own watch....why? because I wanted to see if I could do it and because I could.

I'm not sure the protocol on providing links and sourcing, but google "how to build a mechanical watch" and you will find several DIY tutorials. Sourcing the movement and case was a bit more of a challenge.

ETA 6497-1 movement - there's only a handful of places that sell them, a search will turn them up quickly. I decided to stay away from the "china clones".
Dial - I also purchased a blue sunray B-Uhr dial and hands with the thought of switching when I want to. Wife likes the cream/white dial so I'll probably buy another movement and case.
Case came from the same place as the dial; not sourced in the US, I'll leave it at that

running around -30s/day; I know the movement could do better but it's close enough for me.

fun project
Well done
 
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I鈥檓 a sucker for 50s Hamiltons (luckily they鈥檙e easier on the wallet than their Omega counterparts). This new arrival is an early 50s 14k Fleetwood.
I have to say that is one strikingly beautiful specimen. Classy doesn't begin to describe it.
 
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Three watches were added to the collection today. The first has its own little thread, cos I just love it. One of the best I've seen in a long time, I was tempted to part out the box to someone more in need of it than I (and so lessen the cost) but I'm thinking the set really should stay together:


So, while I'm overpaying for stuff, I bought this one too:

A pretty well used and abused Seamaster 600 but it's sitting on this:

It's complete (a 7912) with no stretch or dings, just lots of dirt. And there's a nice pair of #4 endlinks too. Internet bidders made me go slightly over what I was comfortable paying but not too much.

And then, to round things off, I got this one:

Butex was a name used by BWC (Buttes Watch Companny) for their wrist alarms and chronographs. It's got nothing wrong with it at all save a bit of dirt. Houses the ubiquitous Schilde alarm movement (so ubiquitous, I've forgotten the calibre and I'm too idle to check). It's a great size at some 38mm.

One other little thing was added too. This is an adjustable watch key. I've never seen one before (not that I've been looking). It's a turned and polished bone handle with an expanding (or retractable) key. Pressing the button, as you would on a pen, opens the jaws of the key to fit any mechanism. Cool little tool.
 
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I bought this 1923 Grade 706 Illinois a couple of months ago for less than $50, you can see it in the "learning to fish under $50" post. Anyway, When I got it the dial was pretty worn and the hands were mismatched. I found a fairly nice matching set of hands and had the dial refinished by International Dial. Today the dial returned to me and here is the before and after:
 
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Not recently but a month ago, but I only wore it for less than 2 days and complained about a misaligned GMT hand.

Grand Seiko SBGM221

It went back to japan and it was deemed no fault were found. Apparently GS has a 2 degrees of tolerance when it comes to hand alignment. Provided several pictures with lines going through them. Still adamant for an exchange so I'll see how that will go :\
 
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Looking forward to receiving this.
Described as 'mint', with box, receipt and instructions. A 45 year old sentiment engraved on the case back.
(Seller's photos)